Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, a 24-year-old athlete originally from the United States but now competing for Sweden, set a new world record in pole vault at the Xiamen Diamond League meeting. The event took place at the Egret Stadium where Duplantis cleared 6.24 meters on his first attempt, surpassing his previous record set in Eugene the previous year by just 1cm. This was the eighth time that Duplantis had broken his own record, each time by an increase of 1cm since his first record-breaking performance in 2020 in Torun, Poland.
Duplantis expressed his excitement about beginning his season in China and highlighted his victory at the world indoor championships in Glasgow last month with a 6.10m clearance. American pole vaulter Sam Hendricks, who finished second with a 5.82m clearance, praised Duplantis for his hard work and success. Hendricks acknowledged Duplantis as a true champion and expressed joy in being second place behind the world record holder. He noted Duplantis’ dedication and journey to becoming the champion he is today, emphasizing the high regard in which Duplantis is held among his peers in the sport.